By Stephanie Buckley

Showtimes:

• Thursday, March 5, 12:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Gold Coast Theater (followed by filmmaker Q&A)
• Saturday, March 7, 1:30 p.m.–3:15 p.m. at the Princess Royale (followed by filmmaker Q&A)

In the Remember When showcase, eight filmmakers present very different interpretations of how we experience nostalgia, memory, and our sense of self. From bittersweet reunions between old friends to reflections on aging and insecurity, the films in Remember When are hilarious and heartfelt, tugging at (and interrogating) the viewer’s sense of sentimentality.

Soliloquy of One

Max Radbill’s Soliloquy of One plumbs the inner world of an unnamed woman as she reflects on her connection with nature, freedom, and enlightenment. There’s a hint of self-help jargon to her musings, and as she wanders from a grassy front yard to a beach, a cityscape, a laundromat, and an office supply store, the façade starts to fall. How honest is she really being? Is there any real meaning behind what she’s saying, or is she just trying to sell us something? The short deftly guides the viewers through each twist and turn, using satire and humor to reflect on consumerism, identity, influencer culture, and “main character syndrome.” 

That Seagull Story

That Seagull Story follows two filmmakers on vacation in Ocean City who find themselves utterly unable to be present. Though they admit they’re supposed to be relaxing, they always find themselves fixating on either the future or the past, hashing out ideas for how they might remake of 1973 film Jonathan Livingston Seagull (which I admit I thought was a fake movie) with a girl seagull in the lead this time! Whether they’re reminiscing about what made the original so good or talking through logistics of how they’d shoot the remake, Joan L. Floyd and Douglas M. Armstrong (writers, directors, and stars of the film) can’t seem to let the past go, even in this “colorful seaside setting.”

The Brain Bucket

Christopher Flippo’s The Brain Bucket packs a punch in its voiceover narration and creative animation. The narrator recounts her experiences at a skate park she went to as a teenager, describing skating as “zen.” The film tells the story of a group of kids who needed one another during a specific time, at a specific place, before going their separate ways. In only three minutes, The Brain Bucket evokes feelings and imagery that are at once universal and incredibly personal.

Tits and Time

Tits and Time reminds me of something my grandmother told me when I was a teenager: “when I was your age, I was so obsessed with my body that I forgot to enjoy being young.” In Gabrielle Newhouse’s short, three women — two old, one young — speak frankly about the reality of living in a woman’s body. As they compare experiences of saggy tits, dried-up vajayjay’s, self-consciousness, periods, and more, they try to figure out who has it “worse” — old women or young women. With strong, brashly funny performances from all three main cast members, their banter turns from a competition of suffering to a bonding experience among women from different generations. Ultimately, Tits and Time posits, “life is always a little bit shitty.”

Solid State

In Derek Shane Garcia’s Solid State, old friends Gretchen and Abby catch up at a bar in New York. As they talk about Abby’s new life in L.A., their casual conversation devolves into a fierce competition. Which is better, New York or L.A.? Are $14 smoothies worth it? What’s the best way to live your life? Who’s suffered more? The two lead actresses (also writers) Amanda Lee Hawkins and Jamie Lee Coffey carry the dialogue-heavy scene with ease, with lines that feel ripped from life as the hangout heats up into a confrontation. It’s a simple short focused on one interaction — but it leaves the viewer thinking about their own flaws and how they affect the people they love.

Drifting

Drifting sees two childhood friends meeting up at a roller rink after a long time apart. Dominic is stuck in time, living the townie life: pitching ill-conceived business ideas, wearing his high school t-shirt, and playing “would you rather.” Mac, meanwhile, is a college grad working as a paralegal and preparing for a move to New York — a yuppie, if you will. Set at a retro roller rink, Drifting perfectly evokes the feeling of returning to your hometown after a while away, meeting up with an old friend and realizing you don’t have anything in common anymore. In just under 10 minutes, director Samantha Aben paints a detailed portrait of two deeply complex, flawed characters. By the end of the film, I wasn’t sure which character I sympathized with more.

Salty

In comedy short Salty, Paul Zies plays aging surfer Dave, who’s been sent to a hippie anger management counselor for being, well, salty. Across a series of flashbacks peppered with idiosyncratic surfer jargon, Dave explains what triggers his anger — including one-wheels, “foilers,” and van lifers. As Dave recounts his petty grievances with all the annoying people in the world, the viewer remains firmly on his “side” — until a hilarious ending twist that calls his credibility as a narrator into question.

Time Capsule

Closing out the showcase, Michael Charron’s Time Capsule offers an irreverent, surrealist look at memory and nostalgia as a group of friends dig up a time capsule after 30 years. As the rest of them fawn over old toys and photographs, one friend has a singular focus — the Wendy’s meal he’d stashed away 30 years ago. With over-the-top, absurd humor and an unexpected ending, Time Capsule offers a lighter look at how we experience nostalgia.